Here's yet another new-to-me mystery series, set in 1870. William Monk, a Thames River policeman, has been given a gruesome murder to investigate: a Hungarian immigrant, Fodor, has been skewered in his office above a warehouse, the bayonet left in his body. His fingers had been broken after he was dead. Seventeen candles, 15 white, 2 purple are around the room, along with blood galore. For Monk's investigation, he needs a translator in order to get information from other Hungarian immigrants, so he uses Dobokai, a Hungarian pharmacist who had discovered the body when he was making a delivery.Meanwhile, we learn about Scuff, a young man whom Monk and his wife Hester had taken in when he was a child. Scuff is studying medicine by assisting Crow, a local doctor. It's awful, yet fascinating, learning how they deal with a patient with gangrene who must have his arm amputated. When Crow sends Scuff to find someone who can speak to this Hungarian patient, they find Dr. Fitzherbert, who had been a close friend of Hester (who was a nurse) on the battlefields of the Crimean War 14 years ago. Fitz has his own demons from his experiences in war. This novel is layered deeply.
When more murders occur, similar to the murder of Fodor, everyone gets very upset. Will Monk figure out what's going on before the Hungarian population riots?
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